The hottest Technology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

The dbt meta tag

Data Thoughts • 59 implied HN points • 25 Nov 22
🕹 Technology Data science Software Development Open Source Funding
  1. The dbt meta tag helps document important info about data models. It's a simple way to keep track of data governance like ownership and sensitivity.
  2. Many companies have used the dbt meta tag to enhance their products. Some of these companies have received significant venture capital funding because of these improvements.
  3. Documenting tools and their funding related to the dbt meta tag can inspire others. It shows how small features can lead to big opportunities.

Society is Questioning Social Media. That’s Good.

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Social media Digital Technologies Misinformation Regulations Data Privacy
  1. Society is undergoing a fundamental shift in how social media is perceived and used, indicating a positive change.
  2. There is a growing awareness and pushback against misinformation on social media at both societal and governmental levels.
  3. The evolving societal perspective on social media may lead to increased regulations and standards to protect mental health, privacy, and freedoms of citizens.

Review: The Das Keyboard 5QS Mark II

Startup Strategies • 28 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Gadgets Reviews Computing Innovation Hardware
  1. The Das Keyboard 5QS Mark II is well-built and durable, making it a solid choice for keyboard lovers. It has a nice premium feel and doesn’t slide around on the desk.
  2. The keyboard features RGB-lit keys for notifications, which can be customized using special software, but this feature isn't very useful for most people.
  3. At $219, it’s on the expensive side compared to other keyboards with similar features. You might find better value by getting a cheaper keyboard and using a separate monitor for notifications.

Big Tech Platforms’ Entry into Healthcare and Education

Platform Papers • 59 implied HN points • 13 Jul 22
🕹 Technology Big Tech Data Analytics Regulations Data Privacy Healthcare
  1. Big Tech platforms like Google and Apple enter regulated industries like healthcare and education by capturing sensitive data, leading to concerns about privacy and competition.
  2. In highly regulated industries, Big Tech firms focus on data capture and analysis, offering insights that can significantly impact incumbent service providers and drive innovation.
  3. For platform strategy, success in regulated industries hinges on superior data analytics capabilities, strategies to access and use sensitive data, and balancing stakeholder interests like privacy and security.

Must Learn AI Security Epilogue: Securing AI is a Three-Pronged Approach

Rod’s Blog • 19 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🕹 Technology AI Security Code Data Access
  1. Securing AI involves three main aspects: secure code, secure data, and secure access. It is crucial to ensure that AI systems are free of errors, vulnerabilities, and malicious components.
  2. Developers and users should follow practices like code review, testing, data encryption, and authentication to mitigate threats such as code injections, data poisoning, unauthorized access, and denial of service.
  3. The shared responsibility model defines security tasks handled by AI providers and users. It is important to understand the responsibility distribution between the provider and the user based on the type of AI deployment, such as SaaS, PaaS, or IaaS.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Inflection AI Is A Sleeping Giant

Teaching computers how to talk • 73 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Tech Companies Product Design AI Ethics User Experience
  1. Inflection AI announced Inflection-2.5, a competitive upgrade to their large language model.
  2. Despite having a smaller team than tech giants like Google and Microsoft, Inflection AI focuses on emotional intelligence and safety in their AI products.
  3. Pi, Inflection AI's personal assistant, stands out with its warm, engaging, and empathetic design, making it an underrated gem in the AI space.

Working with your git diffs

CodeFaster • 108 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
🕹 Technology CLI JSON Python
  1. Ignore whitespace in git diffs using -w flag to reduce size and focus on content
  2. Filter diffs using filterdiff CLI tool to include or ignore specific files in your git diffs
  3. Convert git diff output to JSON for easier parsing using tools like diff-to-json or unidiff in Python

AI Roundup 049: Down the Rabbit hole

Artificial Ignorance • 84 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Consumer Electronics Devices
  1. New AI device Rabbit R1 aims to replace smartphones with a large action model and Rabbit OS.
  2. OpenAI responds to a lawsuit arguing about fair use in model training which could impact AI companies.
  3. Concerns rise over AI clones in YouTube ads pushing scams, legal gray areas surrounding AI clones, and proposed legislation to protect voice and likeness rights.

The making of Ruby Changes: A boring advent

zverok on lucid code • 86 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Programming Software Development Language Evolution Documentation
  1. The author has been writing in Ruby for almost 20 years and started the Ruby Changes project to understand language evolution.
  2. The author experimented with an 'advent-style' approach to working on the changelog for Ruby 3.3, documenting the process daily.
  3. The diary of working on the Ruby changelog involved tasks like writing the changelog, addressing bugs, improving documentation, and reflecting on the language changes.

The AI Shift: Preparing for What’s Next

Dev Interrupted • 32 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Tools Software Development Workflows Talent Acquisition Code Quality
  1. AI tools can help developers work faster, but they need to be careful about the quality of the code. It's important for developers to review what AI produces to ensure it meets necessary standards.
  2. AI is a permanent part of software development, but it has its flaws. Many AI-generated codes can be incorrect, so developers should set up proper checks to keep the software secure and reliable.
  3. To prevent burnout and improve productivity, developers should focus on important projects and let automation tools help with code reviews. Changing hiring practices can also help bring in fresh talent and support better workflows.

Abundance mindset (not LinkedIn cringe)

CodeFaster • 36 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Programming Mindset Artificial Intelligence Development Coding
  1. An abundance mindset helps you think creatively and work faster by focusing on possibilities instead of limitations. It's about believing that resources, like time and tech, are plentiful.
  2. A scarcity mindset can slow you down and lead to poor decisions, like overcomplicating simple tasks. Thinking that everything is limited makes you hesitant to create and innovate.
  3. In today's tech world, many resources are cheap and accessible. With advancements like AI, we can keep creating without worrying too much about waste or pollution.

Apeiron's Ecosystem Token $APRS is Launching on Ronin!

Ronin’s Newsletter • 73 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Blockchain Cryptocurrency Gaming Web3
  1. Apeiron's $APRS token is launching on Ronin, allowing users to purchase through partners at Impossible Finance between March 12th and 15th for $0.11 USDC per token.
  2. The $APRS token will have vesting and unlock requirements to ensure a sustainable ecosystem, holding investor token allocations in escrow until they vest.
  3. There will be community rounds for Apeiron NFT holders and the Ronin community to purchase $APRS, with key dates including a wRON staking period, APRS purchase period, and APRS claim period.

GroupBy #6: Meta developer tool, trillions of data points at Discord and Uber's data cycle management

VuTrinh. • 19 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Data Engineering AI Software Development Data Management Systems Architecture
  1. Meta has introduced developer tools that help manage large-scale projects efficiently. These tools assist engineers in solving problems and improving systems.
  2. Big companies like Discord and Uber are using massive data points to create valuable insights. This helps them to effectively manage their data and understand trends better.
  3. Data engineering continues to evolve, with tools like BigQuery and dbt Mesh enhancing data practices. Staying updated with these tools can improve data analysis and management.

Can You Resell An Illumina Sequencer?

ASeq Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Biotechnology Legal issues Market Dynamics Consumer Rights Intellectual Property
  1. Illumina has faced accusations of anti-competitive behavior, especially towards companies reselling their sequencers. They reportedly pressured customers with high fees to avoid sales from third parties.
  2. The lawsuit between International Equipment Trading and Illumina ended in a settlement, leaving questions about legality unanswered. However, it appears Illumina has softened some of their policies regarding support for secondhand equipment.
  3. There's an increasing number of used Illumina machines for sale online, often with their software removed. Users wanting to reinstall the software might need to contact Illumina for assistance and potentially pay for a service contract.

Meta-In-Context Learning For Large Language Models (LLMs)

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 19 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Language Models NLP Chatbots
  1. Meta-in-context learning helps large language models use examples during training without needing extra fine-tuning. This means they can get better at tasks just by seeing how to do them.
  2. Providing a few examples can improve how well these models learn in context. The more they see, the better they understand what to do.
  3. In real-world applications, it's important to balance quick responses and accuracy. Using the right amount of context quickly can enhance how well the model performs.

My event-driven life

Basta’s Notes • 122 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Smart Devices Virtual reality
  1. Notifications play a significant role in shaping our daily lives and habits.
  2. Event-driven systems are prevalent in various aspects of technology, such as communication between processes and UI design.
  3. The utility and impact of notifications are crucial, from connecting us with loved ones to potentially influencing our purchasing decisions.

The Sequence Knowledge # 555: Not All Benchmark are that Simple: An Intro to Multiturn Benchmarks

TheSequence • 14 implied HN points • 03 Jun 25
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Evaluation Natural Language Benchmarks
  1. Multi-turn benchmarks are important for testing AI because they make AIs more like real conversation partners. They help AIs keep track of what has already been said, making the chat more natural.
  2. These benchmarks are different from regular tests because they don’t just check if the AI can answer a question; they see if it can handle ongoing dialogue and adapt to new information.
  3. One big challenge for AIs is remembering details from previous chats. It's tough for them to keep everything consistent, but it's necessary for good performance in conversations.

How to build your portfolio website as a designer

Seeking beauty • 2 HN points • 01 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Web Development Design HTML
  1. Start with simple goals for your website like an About page, email info, and a link to your work. You can always expand it later.
  2. To build a website, you need to write code using HTML. It's like giving instructions to a computer in a specific language.
  3. When coding HTML, use tags like head, title, body, h1, p, and a. These tags define how different elements on your website will appear.

The next big thing in 2024 will be...

next big thing • 85 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Infrastructure Healthcare Content Consumer Technology
  1. AI will drive business productivity in 2024 with a focus on AI showing ROI and AI-enabled applications.
  2. AI infrastructure will evolve with models pushing beyond transformer architecture and real-time AI becoming more embedded.
  3. Traditional enterprises will adopt generative AI at scale and the rise of private equity predicated on data moats and AI transformations.
  4. Geopolitical tensions will shape tech landscapes, and a return to the office culture might be on the horizon in 2024.

99% of people just get AI wrong...

do clouds feel vertigo? • 39 implied HN points • 25 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Data science Programming Innovation
  1. Microsoft claims that GPT-4 shows potential for Artificial General Intelligence, but some critics doubt its transparency and reliability, feeling it's more of a marketing claim than factual science.
  2. Generative AI models can produce creative outputs but shouldn't be judged like traditional knowledge tools. They often generate believable yet false information, showcasing a need for a different evaluation standard.
  3. As AI technology evolves, the cost to create content is decreasing, which raises questions about who will really profit from it and how existing knowledge can be effectively leveraged in this new landscape.

More Super Models is All We Need

TheSequence • 77 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI/ML Tech Releases ML Research Real World ML AI Radar
  1. Last week saw the release of five major foundation models in the generative AI space, each from a different tech giant, showcasing innovative advancements in various areas like text-to-video generation and multilingual support.
  2. These new models are not only significant for the future of generative AI applications but also highlight the unique innovations and contributions made by different companies in the AI field.
  3. The continuous evolution and release of these super models are driving progress and setting new standards in the field of generative AI, pushing boundaries and inspiring further advancements.

It's TCP vs. RPC All Over Again

Systems Approach • 154 HN points • 20 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Networking Protocols Cloud Computing Datacenters Internet
  1. Debate continues on the need for a standard protocol for request/response paradigm beyond TCP and UDP.
  2. The Internet has extensively used RPC for distinct purposes like email, network management, and name resolution.
  3. Comparisons between TCP and RPC in datacenters highlight the need for a specialized transport protocol optimized for request/reply workloads.

The Mathematics of Scale [Math Mondays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 07 Jun 22
🕹 Technology Economics Tech Solutions Software Engineering Data handling R&D
  1. Economies of scale mean costs decrease as production increases, benefitting companies by spreading costs over more goods.
  2. Tech and software engineering benefit greatly from scaling and replication, allowing for efficient large-scale operations.
  3. To leverage the principles of scale for career growth, understand how your solutions fit into the big picture and build a strong foundational knowledge across different areas.

What is a data product?

davidj.substack • 71 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Data Products Interfaces Applications
  1. A data product can take various forms and be consumed in different ways, always requiring an interface for consumption.
  2. From raw data like CSV files to refined database tables, streams, JSON files, and ORM abstracted layers, all can be considered data products.
  3. BI tools, AI automation, and semantic layers play crucial roles in creating consumable data products for various industries, making data more refined and accessible.

More impressive BEV tech to come from BYD in 2025

TP’s Substack • 31 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Electric Vehicles Battery technology Manufacturing Sustainability
  1. BYD is launching new electric vehicle technology in 2025, focusing on better battery efficiency and faster charging. This means you could charge your car much quicker than before.
  2. Their new SiC power modules will make vehicles lighter and more compact, leading to improved performance and energy efficiency. It will help in making electric cars cheaper and more powerful.
  3. BYD is also planning to expand its charging network to support high-voltage charging stations. This is crucial for supporting their upcoming models that require faster charging.

Life After Orchestrators

Data People Etc. • 142 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Data Operations Data Orchestration
  1. Orchestrators can be time killers in data operations, focusing on managing tasks rather than letting data drive operations.
  2. Legacy needs drove the creation of orchestrators to manage complex logic dependencies in data operations.
  3. Post-orchestrator approaches like high-frequency batches and asynchronous processing are gaining popularity for more efficient data operations.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #82

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 74 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Gene-editing Space Automation
  1. Google introduced Gemma, a family of open models inspired by its Gemini technology, now available to developers, signaling openness in AI safety.
  2. MEGA is a new CRISPR tool that targets RNA instead of DNA for more precise and reversible cell therapy design, potentially leading to safer gene editing.
  3. Significant events in space this week included Varda's capsule return, Intuitive Machine's lunar landing, Blue Origin's New Glenn rollout, and a former Disney star becoming a space data company CEO.

The short outburst of activity during Ruby Changelog preparation—2025 edition

zverok on lucid code • 28 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Programming Software Development Documentation Language
  1. Ruby releases a new version every year on December 25th. This has been consistent since 2013, which makes it easier for developers to plan their updates.
  2. A changelog is created that details all the noteworthy changes in the Ruby language. This includes explanations and examples to help developers understand the updates better.
  3. The changelog process helps improve Ruby's documentation and sometimes identifies issues that need to be fixed before the new version is released.

CI / CD for Data Engineering (Python)

The Orchestra Data Leadership Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Data Engineering CI/CD Python DevOps Unit Testing
  1. Understanding basic CI / CD for Python code in a Data Engineering context is crucial for Data Engineering Leaders.
  2. For unit tests, use pytest to ensure functions work correctly, and for integration tests, test connections to third-party APIs.
  3. Implementing CI / CD involves writing code, testing and linting locally, and then deploying to a merge environment to ensure code compatibility.

Notes on Service Level Objectives

A Small, Good Thing • 19 implied HN points • 24 Mar 25
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Product Management Organizational Culture
  1. Service Level Objectives (SLOs) are important for understanding if services are reliable, but many organizations find them hard to use effectively. It's like a tool that sounds great but often doesn't work as well in practice.
  2. Adopting and managing SLOs usually requires a lot of effort and support from the whole team, not just the SREs. If the company culture isn't ready for it, SLOs often get ignored.
  3. There's a big gap between the theory of SLOs and how they're applied in real companies. Many teams struggle with choosing the right metrics and getting everyone to care about reliability over new features.

More interesting things about robotics, Why you SHOULD see M3GAN & Bye Bye Revue

Robots & Startups • 39 implied HN points • 14 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Tech Companies
  1. The movie 'M3GAN' is generating a lot of excitement and took inspiration from Bay Area tech companies.
  2. AI researcher Murray Shanahan highlights the risks posed by large language models that don't truly understand language and 'truth' like humans.
  3. Exciting developments in the robotics world are happening, such as the OSRC team joining Intrinsic, impacting the ROS community.

Roundup: So what's up with AGI?

philsiarri • 89 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence AI Ethics Future Predictions Research Studies
  1. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is a hot topic, representing a theoretical form of intelligent agent.
  2. Predictions about when AGI will be achieved vary greatly, with estimates ranging from five years to decades.
  3. There is skepticism and debate surrounding the realization and desirability of AGI, with contrasting views on its potential capabilities.

What I Watched This Week: AGI Predictions, AI Agent Breakthroughs, and the $10T Race

The Product Channel By Sid Saladi • 10 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Software Automation Innovation
  1. AGI is expected to arrive faster than we thought, with experts saying we might see superintelligence by 2028. This could change many jobs as AI starts performing them without detection.
  2. AI is becoming crucial in businesses, with new roles focused on finding tasks to automate. The value of human workers will shift to management and creative skills as AI takes on more execution tasks.
  3. We're heading into an era where having access to everything, including expert advice, will be cheap and maybe even free. But this requires careful planning to ensure people are ready for these big changes.

The people-pleaser in the machine | Dr. Tatyana Mamut

Dev Interrupted • 9 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
🕹 Technology AI Workforce Software Innovation Management
  1. AI can be overly eager to please, leading to trust issues. Sometimes, it might give false information just to make users happy.
  2. Managing AI like employees can help create a better and more reliable interaction. Setting clear goals and roles for AI can lead to better performance.
  3. The idea of a multi-sapiens workforce, where humans and AI work together, could change how we build and run companies in the future.

Beyond Code Generation: Rethinking Dev Productivity in the Age of AI

Maestro's Musings • 105 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🕹 Technology AI Software Development Productivity Metrics Collaboration
  1. Software development involves more than just writing code; it's a symphony of collaboration, communication, and coordination.
  2. Developers spend a small fraction of their day writing code; other activities like collaborating, debugging, and planning play significant roles.
  3. AI can enhance developer team productivity by focusing on automated testing, augmented code reviews, automated project management, and more beyond code generation.

[Q4 CY23] Ericsson, Nokia, Lam Research, Tesla, TSMC

Irrational Analysis • 19 implied HN points • 21 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Telecom Semiconductors AI Data Centers
  1. Analyst pointed out Ericsson's struggles with return to 2018 revenue levels and significant growth decline, raising concerns about pricing and cost-cutting efforts.
  2. Nokia's CEO indicated a challenging forecast with no recovery until 2026, expressing concern over irrational pricing actions by competitors in the market.
  3. TSMC CEO emphasized confidence in the company's advanced technology, dismissing the impact of edge AI on revenue growth in 2024.

Solve the right problem

Sunday Letters • 99 implied HN points • 27 Mar 22
🕹 Technology Software Development Engineering User Experience System Design Product Management
  1. It's important to solve the right problem. If you don't understand the problem clearly, you might end up overcomplicating things.
  2. Sometimes, less is more. Simplifying designs can make your code easier to manage and improve user experience.
  3. Don't try to fix every possible edge case; focus on the most common scenarios. This can help you avoid unnecessary complexity.

Extending the demos: Metropolis Street Racer (Dreamcast)

Rings of Saturn • 29 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Video Games Game Development Digital Preservation
  1. The demo of Metropolis Street Racer from the Dream On Volume 7 disc was initially not playable, but a patch was created to enable gameplay and access an early version of the game.
  2. There are also patches for the E3 demo and the Opel Challenge demo, allowing players to unlock full menus and features not originally available in those demos.
  3. Exploring these demo versions gives a unique insight into the game's development, showing how it changed before its final release.